Major Controversies Surrounding Tom Brady: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Tom Brady—discover key moments of controversy.

Tom Brady is a retired American football quarterback, widely considered the greatest of all time. He played 23 seasons in the NFL, 20 with the New England Patriots and 3 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady was a key player in the Patriots dynasty from 2001 to 2019.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1947: U.S. Appeals Court cites Labor Management Relations Act of 1947

In 2016, the U.S. Appeals Court overturned the decision to vacate Brady's four-game suspension, citing that they could not "second-guess" the arbitration but were merely determining it "met the minimum legal standards established by the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947".

May 6, 2015: NFL publishes report regarding Deflategate

On May 6, 2015, the NFL released a 243-page report regarding the deflation of footballs used in the previous season's AFC Championship Game. The report concluded that Tom Brady was likely aware of the intentional deflation of footballs.

2015: NFL appeals the vacation of Brady's suspension.

On March 3, 2016, the NFL appealed Judge Richard M. Berman's 2015 decision to vacate Tom Brady's four-game suspension as punishment for his alleged role in the Deflategate scandal.

2016: Concussion Concerns

In 2016, Gisele Bündchen mentioned that Tom Brady suffered from concussions, sparking controversy and an NFL review which found no records of head injury or concussion symptoms.

2016: Brady accepts Deflategate suspension

In 2016, after various appeals, Tom Brady announced that he would give up his Deflategate fight and accept his suspension for the first four regular season games of the 2016 season.

2016: Brady's Support for Trump in 2016 Presidential Election

In 2016, the day before the presidential election, Donald Trump claimed Tom Brady called to express his support and confirm his vote. Following this, Gisele Bündchen denied supporting Trump on Instagram. After a "Make America Great Again" cap was seen in Brady's locker, Brady mentioned that Bündchen advised him against discussing politics.